The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-25

NEW York, May 21.--The salamanders
have at last been called to the attention of
the city authorities, and they are going to
be quarantined, or fumigated, or disin-
fected, or something of the kind. This
letter was received by the Board of Health
yesterday:
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL,
vi and 10 Park Row, May Is, 1887.
"To the Board of Health:
"GENTLEMEN-There are at present two
salamanders at 90 PARK Row, one in an
iron tank and the other running in the
cellar. They poison everything they come
in contact with, even the water they swim
in. Your attention is called to the matter,
as the people in this neighDorhood are
afraid to go out after dark and rents are
rapidly being deprecated. l remain, very
truly yours: EX-OFFCER."
An officer of the Board of Health started
for Reiche's store early this morning armed
with the letter, huge bludgeon, a 32-cali-
Der revolver and bottle Of carbolic acid.
On his way he picked up Policeman Levy,
whom he persuaded 70 accompany him on
store very cautiously and glanced in q
nervous way at the cage containing the
two little marmosets. A parson bird from
New Zealand gave a shrill squawk behind
him and cold chill ran down his back.
What sort of a thing is this salamander
that je'r got hele, at any rate2" he asked
at length.
Mr.. Deitzel, the book-keeper, led the
way to the salamander's tank and told the
officer TO look in. But the officer was not
going to run any risk. He picked up the
cover, which is full of augur-holes, and
sQuinted through one of them at the
death-dealing reptiles. He could not see
very much that way, so he asked for a
pane of glass, and when 1t was supplied
used it as shield for his face.
Don't go TOO near, or you might inhale
the fumes of the water" said Mr.. Deitzel.
"What'd they do If did?'
"Send you into fit."
Really"
"RealIy."
The officer said that he would not give
any orders about the salamanders until he
had reported to the board, and he went in
the direction of the International Hotel to
interview Colonel Van Brimmer and find
out who wrote that letter. Mr.. Reiche has
shut down to some extent on visitors to
the salamanders. He says he will have to
hire more men il the excitement keeps up
10 manage the crowds of curious sight
seers. People invent all kinds OF queer ex-
cuses to see the strange reptiles. Mr.. Reiche
is continually called upon to pass impossi-
BILE reporters, who appear with reams OF
foolscap and dozens and dozens of pencils.
linen tlere are make DellcYe SaVd0LS Dy
the score, stray college professors,
old-time circus men and hundreds
of persons who go in as IL they
wanted to buy something's canary or
sea lion. They always wind up by saying
that they will come again, and ask to see
the salamanders. John McCullom, a
cracker-baker, called yesterday with an ar
tist to get some sketches OF the japanese
life-destroyers. He said he wanted to
make crackers in the shape of the sala-
manders. He thought they would be APP
| petiZing, and there was money in 1t. A
young lady called with little skye terrier
yesterday afternoon, and went up to see
the fre-proof lizards. She was fascinated
with them and did not notice that the lit
tie dog was drinking some of the water
from the tank which had dripped from the
basin on the floor. The attendant says
that the dog had three commissions in four
| minutes and then curled up in heap and
died. He added that sixteen dead rats
were found lying about the room early
| this morning.